
22 06 2023 - Media release 2021/22 ABS Film, Television and Digital Games Survey results
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released the results of its eighth Film, Television and Digital Games Survey covering the financial year 2021/22. The survey provides valuable insights into the Australian screen industry s performance shining a light on key metrics and trends that shape the industry.
The 2021/22 survey highlights the strength of the Australian screen industry with large gains in employment and growth in digital games. For the first time, data covering film and video distribution businesses and film exhibition businesses has also been included.
Screen Australia's CEO Graeme Mason said, We are pleased to share these results from the ABS, which provides a snapshot of how large and dynamic the Australian screen industry is and how it has grown since the last survey.
The Australian screen industry employed approximately 55,000 people and contributed over $6 billion in valued-added* to the Australian economy in 2021/22, making it the largest creative contributor.
It's really exciting to see employment opportunities and career pathways for our talented and skilled workforce are on the rise and that the billion-dollar digital games sector is booming. This proves that no matter what your area of passion is, there are more opportunities than ever to seek a career in the Australian screen industry, Mason said.
Industry employment on the rise One area which has seen significant growth is employment. Total industry employment has grown by 37% since 2015/16, excluding distribution and exhibition businesses, which were not included in the previous survey. This reflects the scale of the screen workforce, its strength and vital contribution to the Australian economy.
-- Of the 55,126 people employed in the industry over the 2021/22 period, the largest proportions were seen in film and video production (26,808) and exhibition (11,213), with the largest growth occurring among digital games developers, who saw a 203% increase compared to 2015/16.
Although the recent production boom has increased employment opportunities for workers in the industry, it also highlights short-term challenges such as sourcing crew. This has prompted the introduction of additional initiatives such as Screen Australia's Industry Development Programs for below-the-line roles to maintain the momentum in meeting these demands.
Financial activity trends differ across sectors
-- The survey reveals film and video businesses have seen significant growth in output (or industry value-added) since 2015/16, increasing by 43% to $1,611 million in 2021/22. This increased output has led to a significant increase in income for film and video production businesses, growing by 75% to $4,575 million in 2021/21.
Interestingly the data showed that film and video production businesses received significantly more post-production, digital and visual effects (PDV) services income compared to 2015/16 ($389 million, up 193%) reflecting a trend of production businesses bringing more PDV work in-house.
However, film and video production businesses have also seen significant increases in expenses (104% growth since 2015/16), driven largely by rising labour costs.
For film and video post-production businesses, $604 million total income was generated in 2021/22 (increase of 34% since 2015/16), while value-added increased by 23% to $374 million in 2021/22.
The 2021/22 survey includes film and video distribution and film exhibition businesses. These sectors reported a combined $2,757 million of income and an aggregated profit of $155 million.
Graeme Mason said, Film distribution and exhibition businesses have experienced significant hardship over the past few years, but it's heartening to know that watching a film at the cinema continues to be Australia's most popular cultural pastime.
Commercial free-to-air broadcasters generated a total income of $3,746 million (decrease of 17% from 2015/16) and saw a decline of 9% to $1,857 million in value-added. Subscription broadcasters and channel providers generated a total income of $4,431 million (decrease of 27% from 2015/16) and also saw a decline of 53% in value-added (to $1,186 million in 2021/22).
Graeme Mason said, We acknowledge there are challenges for the sector, such as subscription broadcasters and channel providers and commercial free-to-air broadcasters seeing a decline in income and value-added, partly driven by increased global competition.
*To account for inflation and ensure comparability of results over time, Screen Australia has converted 2015/16 figures into 2021/22-dollar terms. This has been done using publicly available ABS Consumer Price Index (CPI) data.
Boost in film and video production activity The survey results found that total hours of television produced increased by 1.7% since 2015/16, with strong growth in broadcast hours of particular genres, such as television drama (70%) and documentary (165%). However total cost increased by 45%, driving up average cost per hour for television productions.
For non-television film and video production, there was significant growth between 2015/16 and 2021/22 in numbers of feature films (133%), film documentaries (46%), short films (152%), and short form online content (60%). Average cost per production declined for feature films (-35%), and short films (-85%) and increased for film documentaries (5%) and short form online content (76%).
It is important to note that although Australia has experienced a boom in productions in recent years, the industry is still waiting for the income of these productions to have an impact as the projects hit our screens in the future.
Substantial growth in digital games A notable area of growth identified in the survey is digital games. During 2
More from Screen Aus
30/11/2023
30 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces 14 placements through BTL: Next Step Stage 2
Image courtesy: Screen Warriors
Screen Australia has annou...
29/11/2023
29 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.7 million for seven documentaries
Deeper
Screen Australia has announced three documentaries fun...
23/11/2023
23 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $900,000 in development funding for 31 projects
Wishes
Screen Australia has announced 18 feature f...
10/11/2023
09 11 2023 - Media release Cameras roll in Canberra on new ABC comedy Austin
Austin - Ben Miller, Michael Theo, Sally Phillips
Screen Australia, ABC, ITV Stu...
10/11/2023
10 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia, SBS and NITV announce Digital Originals shortlist for 2023
Screen Australia Digital Originals Workshop. Image by ...
09/11/2023
09 11 2023 - Media release Kangaroo Beach to return for a third series
Kangaroo Beach Series 3
Screen Australia and ABC are thrilled to announce that a third...
09/11/2023
09 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce TV adaptation of Sh...
08/11/2023
08 11 2023 - Media release Applications Open for Screen Australia's Enterprise 2024 Program
Behind the scenes of Total Control 3 - Wayne Blair, Jub Clerc ...
02/11/2023
02 11 2023 - Media release Drama Report 2022/23: $2.34 billion spent in Australia from 213 productions
NCIS: Sydney, The New Boy, Ginger and the Vegesaurs.
S...
01/11/2023
01 11 2023 - Media release Daisy Ridley set to star in Zak Hilditch's new fi...
31/10/2023
31 10 2023 - Media release Deirdre Brennan appointed as new Screen Australia CEO
Screen Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Deirdre Brennan a...
31/10/2023
31 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces participants in Access Coordinator Training Program
Access Coordinator Training Program workshop in Sydn...
31/10/2023
31 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and NITV announce Journey Home - David Gulpilil
Writer/director/producers Maggie Miles and Trisha Morton-Thomas, a...
30/10/2023
30 10 2023 - Media release South Australian-Made feature film With or Without You announced
With or Without You stars Melina Vidler, Marta Dusseldorp and Albe...
30/10/2023
31 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and SBS announce new intoxicating romance Four Years
L-R: Mithila Gupta (creator/writer), Nicole Reddy (writer), S...
17/10/2023
17 10 2023 - Media release Applications open for Fresh Cuts Documentary Pitch Initiative
Screen Australia and the Australian International Documentary Confere...
09/10/2023
09 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and Instagram Announce Recipients of...
06/10/2023
06 10 2023 - Media release Australians in Film and Screen Australia bring Hollyw...
05/10/2023
05 10 2023 - Media release Talent Gateway and Global Producers Exchange applications open
Screen Australia and Australians in Film (AiF) are delighted to anno...
03/10/2023
03 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia launches new games funding for 2023 and beyond
Neyyah: Defy Reality Entertainment
Screen Australia is pleased to ...
25/09/2023
25 09 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $10 million of produc...
14/09/2023
14 09 2023 - Media release Cameras Roll on Asher Keddie and David Wenham in Drama Series Fake
Fake stars Asher Keddie and David Wenham
Screen Australia and P...
13/09/2023
13 09 2023 - Media release Untapped 2023 Development Lab Participants Announced
2023 Untapped Participants
Screen Australia and Australians in Film today an...
07/09/2023
07 09 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces applications are open for two below-the-line programs
Screen Australia is pleased to announce two progra...
30/08/2023
29 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and Stan announce three new drama series
L-R: Dylan River (Thou Shalt Not Steal), Bonnie Moir (Exposure), Nicholas...
28/08/2023
28 08 2023 - Media release New Original Drama Mix Tape Announced
Mix Tape director Lucy Gaffy and writer Jo Spain
BINGE, Screen Australia and Screen Ireland ...
28/08/2023
28 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Maggie Beer's Big Mission
Maggie Beer s Big Mission
Screen Australia, ABC and Screenwest hav...
24/08/2023
24 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $4.6 million in Enterprise funding
Enterprise Business funding recipients Kauthar Abdulalim (Blac...
24/08/2023
24 08 2023 - Media release Cameras roll on new Screen Australia and ABC comedy, White Fever
White Fever creator and actor Ra Chapman and actor Chris Pang. Ima...
18/08/2023
18 08 2023 - Media release Five Australian projects selected for Toronto International Film Festival 2023
Shayda
Five Australian projects have been selected ...
16/08/2023
16 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.2 million of story...
09/08/2023
09 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Fresh Blood 3 teams
Fresh Blood 3 teams in Sydney for the workshop on 8 August 2023
The ABC and ...
02/08/2023
02 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $2.2 million for five documentaries
Mozart's Sister
Screen Australia has announced three docum...
01/08/2023
01 08 2023 - Media release Marc Fennell continues his global treasure hunt durin...
27/07/2023
27 07 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.7 million for Industry Development
Courtesy Veterans Film Festival
Screen Australia has announ...
26/07/2023
26 07 2023 - Media release Screen Australia launches Access Coordinator Training Program
Screen Australia has announced a new Access Coordinator Training Prog...
25/07/2023
25 07 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1 million in funding for seven online projects
Eating Late and Working Late
Screen Australia has ...
20/07/2023
20 07 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $3 million in support...
18/07/2023
18 07 2023 - Media release Meta and Screen Australia launch third year of First ...
06/07/2023
06 07 2023 - Media release Zoe Pepper's debut feature film Birthright headin...
03/07/2023
03 07 2023 - Media release Screen Australia Launches Our Cinema Campaign
Screen Australia has launched a new multi-media campaign to promote an impressive lin...
22/06/2023
22 06 2023 - Media release 2021/22 ABS Film, Television and Digital Games Survey results
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released the results of...
20/06/2023
20 06 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and Network 10 announce projects for...
15/06/2023
14 06 2023 - Media release Screen Australia, Stan and the ACTF announce family feature Wind Catcher
(From top left): Producer Drew Grove, Director Tanith Glyn...
15/06/2023
15 06 2023 - Media release Screen Australia, VicScreen, SBS and Arenamedia annou...
13/06/2023
13 06 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and 9Network announce Big Miracles Season 2
Director Danika Armytage, Series Producer Chris Murrihy and Co-Executi...
29/05/2023
29 05 2023 - Media release Screen Australia, SBS And NITV Call For Applications To Digital Originals 2023
Latecomers, Appetite
Screen Australia, SBS and Nat...
15/05/2023
15 05 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and SBS announce applications open f...
08/05/2023
08 05 2023 - Media release Screen Australia launches the First Nations Game Studio fund
Image: Shutterstock
Screen Australia is pleased to announce the First...
04/05/2023
04 05 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces $2 million for eight documentaries
Teagan Micah in This Is Us
Screen Australia has announced two docume...